Recently, Michigan received the bad news that another invasive pest has arrived in our state – the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). The unwelcome guest feeds on fruits, vegetables, corn, soybeans and much more. It is difficult to control with insecticides and is a smelly nuisance that clusters on and in homes when the weather turns cold.
Michigan State University Extension staff members as well as employees of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and other agencies are vigilant about identifying and mitigating the effects of any new pests that enter our borders.
An MSU student collected the first specimen in Berrien County for a class project. It was his instructor in the course, MSUE educator Duke Elsner, who identified the bug as one of concern. Dr. Elsner submitted it to the USDA for further verification. A resident in Eaton County brought the second specimen to his local Extension office to MSUE educator George Silva, who sent it to MSU Diagnostic Services. There, entomologist Howard Russell identified it as a brown marmorated stink bug and forwarded it to APHIS for confirmation.
MSU entomology specialists are gathering information and writing research proposals to address the issues this new pest will create.
If you are curious about this pest, learn more from this fact sheet developed by entomologist Chris DiFonzo along with Howard Russell.
MSU Extension Spotlight 
At the recent Mt. Pleasant Conference Howard Russel talked about the Spotted Wing Drosophillia. Do you have any pictures and information to send me so I can share this with others in my area? Master Gardeners and Garden Club are excellent areas for this of which I belong.
Thank you for your time and the service you provide to keep us enlighted in these areas.
Verna Humphrey
Advanced Master Gardener (Montcalm County)
Verna,
Here’s a website with information on SWD from our MSU researchers.
Hope that helps!
Robin
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/SWD.htm